Growing roses in hot climates

Water-wise lawn replacements

Daylilies (Homercallis) and Agapanthus also lend themselves to being divided.  Again, dig them up, divide the clumps and replant.  No drying out time is required for these.  You can also take cuttings from your favorite geranium (Pelargonium) and simply stick them into a pot of soil or potting mix.  Keep the soil damp and -- voila -- you will have vigorous new geraniums in bloom next summer.

Shows and Sales.  Specialty flower club shows or garden club events are great way to find real bargains.  Usually the plants have been grown in someone's back yard, then potted for the sale.  Better yet, you are likely to find unusual hybrids and colors to add variety to your flower borders.

Perennial Santolina (Santolina incana) with petunias in a flower border suitable for a hot, dry climate.

Not So Perennial.   One of our favorite plants for a perennial flower border is the Santolina. (S. incana).  We love its brilliant yellow ball-like flowers.  We find, however, that it rarely lasts more than 2 or 3 years and then must be replaced.  It is a good example of "perennials" not really lasting forever.  Over a period of 5 to 10 years you may have to replace every perennial in your flower borders if you want them to remain beautiful.

Too Seedy.  We have found that seeds packets usually contain more seeds which grow into more plants than we have space for in our garden.  Seeds are best for annuals, in our opinion.

Wake Up Call.  As the average daytime temperature cools to below 90F (32C), many plants in your garden will begin to wake up from summer dormancy.  And they are waking up hungry!  So be sure to feed them in the next few weeks.  Roses, in particular, will give you a gorgeous Fall blooms if they are well fed in September.

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